Do one thing that scares you (slightly) every day

[make_your_move]

This morning I caught a thread on the Merry Rose (the email tavern for the Kingdom of Atlantia) on someone asking practical ideas for bringing her 8 month old (twins I think) to Pennsic. The responses ranged all over, including one that basically said "don't bother, it's too much work" ... so I thought I'd chime in with some thoughts - because I've basically raised my 4 girls in the SCA and short of a few events that I elected to miss - we go do things as a family. Anyway, here's my response this morning that prompted me to make it a class



I have raised 4 girls in the SCA - they are currently 17, 10, 8 &
7. You can do Pennsic safely and efficiently with children, but it
will significantly alter your experiences as you will be more focused
on childcare than just about anything else. In addition, since you are
bringing 2 children under the age of a year, I would think seriously
about length of your stay depending on the weather, particularly if it
is hot. That being said, these are things that I think you might
consider ...

*Please
bring another adult with you to help with childcare. Two parent
(particularly with 2 kids) is almost a requirement. If you can afford
to bring another adult (like a nanny) that would be even better, or
perhaps you can ask someone you camp with. That way you always can get
a little break, and I find that invaluable, not only for your health,
but for your sanity.

*Get enough sleep - which probably means not too many late nights
during your stay. If you and your partner alternate who gets to sleep
in the following morning (easier for you because the babies take
bottles) then that person also gets to stay up a little later the night
before. My husband and I have alternated nights/mornings for years,
for just this purpose - so that we get to feel like adults too and not
just parents

*Lots of clothing that can be layered. Cottons, linens and some fleece
for the cold nights. Also, when it comes to keeping babies warm or
cool, I will always opt for mundane conveniences (like sleepers with
footies for nights) that are in the best interest of my kids. For
daytimes I put a onesie on them in the mornings and covered it with a
tabard - TA DA! Instant medieval baby clothes.

*Hat, or cloth or something to cover there head. If you can't get them
to wear something on their head, bring a parasol since you'll be with
them almost all the time anyway.
*Hydrate,
hydrate, hydrate - both yourself and the kids. Stay in the shade on
hot days. How do you know if they're hydrated enough? Check their
diapers, are the wet? Do they smell strongly of urine? If they're not
getting a lot of wet diapers or they smell very strong, then they need
more fluid. Check with your pediatrician to see how much water/juice
you can add to their intake (because you won't be giving them formula
all the time.

*Also bring a small baby pool or tub that they can splash in. Even
temperate water will cool your core temperature. If you want it
colder, go to the cooper store and by some ice to add. The Coopers
have significantly improved their water system and you will *not* end
up with an rust colored baby from bathing them in the spigot water.
Promise.

*Bring some sort of netting to cover their port-a-crib with - it will
keep the bugs out. Also, I brought a plain black cloth for the
evenings to insulate them, and to keep it a little darker for them so
mine didn't wake at the crack of dawn. Your mileage may very.

*If they have a schedule try to stick to it as much as humanly
possible. Same breakfast, snack, nap, lunch, snack, nap and bedtimes
as possible. Both you and they will be happier for it. It may mean
that you spend a lot of afternoons in camp reading a book while they
nap (or catching a nap yourself) - but in general a well rested baby
(and parent), has a better time overall.

*Be willing to get in the car and take them into town (New Castle or
Butler) for a bit. They'll probably sleep in the car and you'll get a
chance to get into the air conditioning for a little while.
*Make
friends with other parents. If there are classes about kids, *go*. On
the 2nd week of Pennsic there is always stuff to do at Children's
Point, and on Wed of the 2nd week is the Atlantian Children's Fete,
which is always a lot of fun.

*Bring toys and things for them to do. Large wooden blocks and cloth
dolls are things medieval kids had and they're still around today.
That being said, if you in camp and they have a Fisher-Price toy they
love, bring it - in the long run, what makes *them* happy will make
*you* happy.


There are a few things that I can think of at the moment. Please
feel free to contact me if you'd like. I think I may teach this class
at Pennsic.



And with the encouragement of my clan ... I decided to make this a reality ...

I've signed up to teach a class at Pennsic this year "Modern Kids/Babies in the Current Middle Ages" with the lovely mellyflori giving me my class description:

How-tos on safety, garb, hydration, and keeping parents, babies, and kids sane and entertained at Pennsic and other SCA camping events.

So ... I'm interested to hear what other SCA/Renn/reenactors & like folk say about raising kids. All hints, tips and tricks are welcome!

Comments

[dashrippington.livejournal.com]

How incredibly awesome. I for one have never been able to attend Pensic... but as a parent... I would find this topic VERY useful.

Not being a parent, I focused on another area

[3fgburner.livejournal.com]

I responded to her off-list, with one area in which I've seen $#!+ happen:

Not a parent, here, but I've camped with several households that had
babies, over the last 27 years. I primarily pay attention to the
emergency side of that, since I'm a Chirurgeon.

Mega-dittos on the sunscreen! Sunburned babies are cranky ones. Be
ultra-paranoid about stuff like clean dishes, and clean hands around
food. Talk to your pediatrician about what over-the-counter meds he /
she would recommend for: pain / fever, upset tummies / diarrhea /
constipation, sniffles, allergies, and whatnot. Bring your preferred
model of thermometer, and check the battery/ies before leaving. If you
don't want to expose their home nursery implements to the dust and
crud of Pennsic, snag some less-fancy and less-expensive travel items.

Besides having camped with households containing babies, I've worked a
lot of shifts at Chirurgeon point where someone brought in a sick
baby. 2AM is not the time to find out that Chirurgeon Point doesn't
carry OTC medications (it doesn't), or that all the available
thermometers are (adult) oral or have dead batteries.

Erich's corollary to Murphy's Law is: The probability that $#!+ will
happen, varies inversely with the degree to which one is prepared
therefor.

The time to be paranoid is when you're getting the gear together.
Then, you can relax more at Pennsic knowing that you're ready.

Re: Not being a parent, I focused on another area

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Dex, would you mind sending me a copy of that mail? I'd be interested in your perspective.

I can be both medic and mom, but I love to pick others brains. Will you be at Highland River Melees this weekend?

Re: Not being a parent, I focused on another area

[3fgburner.livejournal.com]

Actually, that IS a copy of the mail I sent her. I'm going to be at Potomac CeltFest this weekend, doing 17th C MASH unit. I will, however, be at Stierbach's Birthday in two weeks. I'm CiC. I'm also teaching: Period Medicine, Physick, and Surgery; and The Pennsic Medicine Chest.

Re: Not being a parent, I focused on another area

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

I'll be there. Expect me to grab you on some down time. Also, I'll have my kit with me :)

[redhotlips.livejournal.com]

I'm rather ignorant of SCA and Renn and all that, save for what folks put in their journals... but even to me this sounds like a good class to conduct.

[bittibuddha.livejournal.com]

what are those little bracelets moms wear to keep track of nursing babies (which side/what time)? I think there could be something developed in there to keep track of how hydrated the kidlets are. whether the kids wear the bracelets themselves, or momma wears them, knowing how much water your kids have been drinking sounds like a good idea.

oh, and keeping washcloths in iced mini coolers to put on the back of kids necks when they've been running around like crazy people sounds like a good idea too. hell: for big kids as well.

[shalandara.livejournal.com]

Food.

That has always been an issue with my kids, and we only do day trip events and not camping {but then mine are 8, 8, and 6 now -- yes, twins and a singleton, and we have only recovered in the past year or so from the stunning that raising twins gives to you.}

Anyway, keep your kids on the same menu if possible. Mine have pickiness issues, but also food allergies, so we end up bringing food wherever we go. This can make meal plans in Pennsic camps interestings, as well as dealing with the Food Court vendors. But having battles over food issues will jsut make everyone unhappy and cranky.

And this ties into keeping them on the same schedule in general, feeding time wise.

Sounds like a neat class! I might try to drop in if it fits into my schedule. I might learn something new.

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

I'd love to hear more (including how you found me ... have we met?) and I'd love to hear your ideas on the subject :) Thanks for the contribution so far!

[shalandara.livejournal.com]

First off, I saw your original email on the MR, and then stumbled across this on LJ (after I read my friends stuff I go and read the friends of the communities I am in -- you stumble across a lot that way). Second, I am not sure if we have ever officially met, but we have friends in common. I am Elizabeth of Hadley Hall, and my college roomate was Aelfwynn. I've camped with Watan, and my children are buds/pseudo-cousins with Aelfwynn's daughter. I have not brought my kids to Pennsic. My husband has heat issues (as in wears shorts in wintertime so finds springtime too hot), and the kids have possibly followed him in that. Pennsic has also been my vacation away to myself time. :)

There isn't much more to be said on food. The problem is that you have to learn how your child handles food and heat. My youngest consistently throws up after long hot events. This has been the case since he was a baby, and believe me it has made traveling home from events, well, interesting. We did camp at a local event last summer, and he ended up throwing up during the middle of the night. It sure stank the tent up. One of my daughters seems to exist on fruit during the day, but is starving at night time when we are off-site and at a restaurant/drive-thru and then gets all of her carbs and protein.

It helps if you have been going to day events before a minor or major camping event because you already have a slight handle on what they want/how they react.

If you can get across to people that most of it is common sense and truly listening to your child (both to what they say and how they are acting).

[aminahfiddler.livejournal.com]

You also walked the girls around camp by camp and said. This is "aminah's camp. This is a safe camp, they will help you."

You did this in front of all the camp folks so we knew that were were told we were a safe camp so that if they showed up frantic. We knew it was an emergency and would act like that. Not go away little cute girls. Where are your parents darn irresponsible parents.

[webqatch.livejournal.com]

The first year we brought a "nanny" for daBoy, it worked out really well -- vital since we were merchanting.

We paid for her entire trip (gas, tolls, troll, food plan, etc. -- and even bought her a faboo thank you present at the end) and she watched the munchkin for 10 hours per day. Most mornings, we handed daBoy off to her during breakfast and reclaimed him after we closed down the shop in the evening (plenty of chances for her to stop by the booth for baby-/parent-breaks so long as customers weren't around). This gave her most evenings free, so long as she was able to get up early the next day. We did make sure to schedule one day (Midnight Madness) where she got to sleep in and not take him until lunchtime -- but then had responsibility until much later that evening.

That being said, we also had a really bad experience the second time around. The person we picked the first year wasn't available so we had a different nanny... and it was her first Pennsic... and she ended up flaking on us BADLY. So if you're going to use this option, make sure that it's someone reliable.

more tips for camping with kids

[(Anonymous)]

Saw you on a friends journal. We write the camp name and location on their leg or arm (somewhere visible) with a non-toxic permanent marker (henna or other temporary tattoo would work as well) so that if they do get lost and their bracelet falls off they are easily brought home - by the time you get home from Pennsic it has worn off.

If you are camping with others, make it clear what the kids can or cannot have to eat. We had a snack box of healthy snacks in the kitchen, and everyone in camp knew that the kids could have whatever they wanted out of the snack box at anytime - even before they could talk they would walk over and stand near the box and the nearest adult would hand them something from it. Along with this, realize that camping and the heat can dramatically change their normal eating/drinking patterns, some kids will only want to eat first thing in the morning or later in the evening - be willing to be flexible about meal schedules if your kid needs you to. As long as they are drinking enough water and getting enough healthy and varied (protein, carbs, and fruits/vegetables) food to eat overall, it doesn't matter if they refuse to eat a full lunch or dinner at the normal time.

For little kids, a wagon (with sides so they don't fall out when they fall asleep, and a shade to keep the sun off), and a kid-sized picnic table is great if you can manage it - kids have more trouble eating off their laps than we do. With an 8-month old, we found an exer-saucer was the most helpful thing we brought.

For babies and toddlers sew a pair of mitts and a hood onto a warm footed sleeper for really cold nights. They may kick off their blankets and pull of socks, mitts, or hats that are not stitched on, and it can get very cold.

[paquerette.livejournal.com]

I've always taken mine to Pennsic, but I find myself drawing a blank when other people ask me for advice. It seemed like I was always flying by the seat of my pants anyway. ;) Breastfeeding and babywearing were my two lifesavers and this is going to be my first year without either, so we'll see how that goes.

Oh, the tether! I think we're past that this year, but the last few Bea and I both wore tablet woven belts, with mine being verrah long, and I tied us together. She was very insistent about walking rather than being carried or worn many times, but not excellent about hand holding. It made a nice emergency backup for those moments when she yanked her hand free and made a break for it. And yeah, we ended up with a toddler falling on her butt when she ran out of rope, but it beats the alternative.

[mellyflori.livejournal.com]

On a side note, how cute is your icon!!

I'm torn between wanting to snatch my baby up and kiss her until she squirms and just wanting to pinch your icon's cheeks!

And thank you for the tablet belt tip. The Benevolent Dictator will probably not be walking this year, at least not well enough to get herself through the marketplace, but it'll be great next year and at events between now and then. Amen to the babywearing thing, too. We're bringing a jogging stroller just because but I know my sling and mei-tei will get more use.

edited: To use my pinch-those-cheeks icon. :)

[queenmaggie.livejournal.com]

Tablet belt( or any baby harness) = "leading strings" to any character I play at ren faires: gives me a great chance to interact, to talk about the then contemporary theories of child rearing, and keeps the littles safe. Not bad, all around.

[alex-wench.livejournal.com]

Rock on with ya bad self mama duck :)

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Quack!

[alex-wench.livejournal.com]

:)

kisses

[queenmaggie.livejournal.com]

I wrote a short FAQ years ago for taking youngsters (not babies) to Renfaires, and it was excerpted here:
http://scribe.faire.net/faqs/Chldfair.Htm

The discussion that followed talked about the necessity of sunscreen and hydration, but it seems to have been missed in the write up. But you're welcome to any of my little tricks and words : the important thing is to keep them safe and healthy.

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

This is great lovey. Thank you!

A few quick thoughts

[sierra-victor.livejournal.com]

Yes, you're at war, but you're still a mom or a dad. That comes first. Set your expectations accordingly.

Do not expect your camp-mates to help. Some people will help. Badger, Sharptooth, et. al. are about as kid-friendly as you can get in the way of a household. Many other groups would rather have nothing to do with you and your bundle of joy. In short, know who you're camping with and just how child-friendly they really are.

Fire is Not your friend. Sooner or later, some kid is going to fall in a fire pit. I grabbed one--not at any of our camps!--from doing just that a few years back. Sooner or later, I know in the pit of my stomach, it will happen.

A big, big thumbs up on drinking in huge amounts of water and having a small swimming pool. It's the only way to keep smalls happy and healthy during Pennsic heat waves.

Be ready to abandon ship. Yes, it's your vacation with the bestest people in the world, but some kids do not do well with semi-primitive camping. Some kids will get sick as dogs. It happens. Deal, pack up, and head home.

Bring any and all OTC meds you think you and 'da kid' may need. Then bring another pack of the same and leave in the car for when you've found the meds can't be found or have floated away in a Pennsic monsoon.

One final thought. Teach the class, but publish in the Merry Rose, or I'd prefer to see, your final document where parents can see it Before they get to war.

S_V (Dad of a 19-year old whose first Pennsic was when she was four months old.)

[marinda-4.livejournal.com]

I might have to try and make this class, since I'll be at Pennsic for the first time with a child - my son will be 5 months old. :)

BTW, I also added you. It's good to find people you know!
Fia